Garment pressing machine



1970 D. 1.. RADFCRD ET AL 3,490,159

GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE Filed March 18. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGSINVENTORS DAVID L. RADFORD MICHEAL G.BEELEY RICHARD M. HANSON BYATTORNEY.

Jim. 20, 1970 L. RADFORD" ,ET'AL' 3,490,159

GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE I Filed March 18. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I40ADJ. L. I49 42 I50 II- T- l8 m l 26 INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY:

United States Patent 3,490,159 GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE David L.Radford, Salt Lake City, Micheal G. Beeley, Bountiful, and Richard M.Hanson, Salt Lake City, Utah, assiguors to McGraw-Edison Company, Elgiu,Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 713,751Int. Cl. D06f 71/08 U.S. Cl. 3835 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Agarment pressing machine having a buck and a complementary head movablysupported relative to the buck to swing initially upwardly from the buckand then rearwardly and vertically clear of the buck and includingspecifically a simple two arm support arrangement for the head, stopsfor limiting movement of the arms in proper respective operatingpositions, and actuating means including power cylinders to move thearms and head as desired and a control therefor.

This invention relates to a garment pressing machine having a headdesigned to move upwardly off and rearwardly from the cooperating buck,and more particularly to simplified head supporting and moving structurehaving a lift arm pivoted to the machine frame and a pressure armpivoted to the lift arm and in turn supporting the head, and actuatingmeans including power cylinders to move the arms and thus the head intothe desired pressing cooperation with the buck and a control for theactuating means.

In the garment cleaning and pressing industries, a typical pressingmachine has a pressure arm which pivots about a fixed point to move apress head carried thereby against a cooperating stationary buck or to aposition spaced from the buck. A major drawback of this is that eitherthe head is too close to and is vertically over the buck, even whenelevated, to provide adequate safe clearance for an operator to dress agarment quickly on the buck; or the head is elevated almost 90 degreesoff the buck, but whereat it radiates heat directly toward the operatorand moreover requires additional cycle time because of the longeroperating stroke. Various approaches or withdrawing the head rearwardlyand out of vertical registry with the buck have been attempted, but suchmachines have been generally too costly, complicated and wanting inreliability to achieve commercial acceptance. It is noted that if thehead were removed rearwardly from vertical registry with the buck, anoperator could easily dress the garment on the buck and even use a handiron on the dressed garment, and the Working conditions would be muchcooler and improved.

Accordingly, a basic object of this invention is to provide acommercially acceptable garment pressing machine having a stationarybuck and a cooperating head that is initially elevated upwardly frompressing contact with the buck and thereafter is moved rearwardlytherefrom and out of vertical registry with the buck.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide structure forsupporting the head to move relative to the buck according to theprevious object, the structure including a pressure arm holding the headand a lift arm holding the pressure arm for swinging this arm and thehead about a given axis, arm locating stops appropriately disposed tooperatively align the head and buck as required, and actuating means tomove the arms relative to one another and to control such movementautomatically, safely and dependably.

These and other objects of this invention will be more fully appreciatedand understood after reviewing the fol- 3,490,159 Patented Jan. 20, 1970lowing specification, including the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressing machine utilizing the subjectinvention;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged elevational views, as seen partly insection, of the machine shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a control suitable for operating thepressing machine disclosed in FIGS. 1-4.

Referring now to FIGS. 14, the subject pressing machine 10 includes aframe 12 that supports buck 14 and table 16 in vertically spacedrelation, and an upper head 18 that moves relative to the frame andagainst the buck 14 in the pressing position (FIG. 4). The head 18 andbuck 14 have cooperating pressing surfaces 19. The support for the head18 includes a pressure arm 20 which is connected at its forward end tothe head 18, and a lift arm 22 which is pivoted at its lower end at pin24 to frame 12 and which is pivoted at its upper end at pin 26 topressure arm 20. This linkage, when properly actuated, initially movesthe head vertically from contact with the buck 14 (the position in FIG.4 to that in FIG. 3) and thereafter carries the head rearwardly anddownwardly to a position where it is out of vertical registry with thebuck (FIG. 2).

A spring 28 extends between mount 30 on lift arm 22 and mount 32 onpressure arm 20 and tends to rotate the pressure arm clock-Wise relativeto the lift arm to elevate the head 18 off the buck 14 (reference FIG.3). Stop 33 is provided between the lift and pressure arms to limit thisclock-wise rotation, the stop including angles 34 and 36 secured torespective arms, and bumper element 38 on stud 39 secured adjustably tothe angle 36. The bumper element engages angle 34 when the head iselevated sufficiently off the buck (FIG. 3) to permit rearward movementof the head by pivoting lift arm 22 clock-wise about pin 24 to theposition shown in FIG. 2. Power cylinder 42 is mounted between the pinconnection 44 on the lift arm 22 and pin connection 46 on the pressurearm 20 and acts when extended to overcome the force of the spring 28 torotate the pressure arm and urge the head 18 against the buck 14 (FIG.4).

A power cylinder 52 is connected between the frame at pin 54 and thelift arm 22 at pivot connection 56 and operates when extended to raisethe lift arm from the position in FIG. 2 to the position in FIG. 3. Thepivoting at pin 24 of the lift arm 22 vertically below the press head18, and the pin connection 26 between the lift arm 22 and pressure arm20 locate the center of mass of these components on the clockwise sideof the picot pin 24 (relative to FIGS. 2-4) or rear side of the machineso that the arm 22 tends to rotate by gravity to its lowered position(FIG. 1) when power cylinder 52 is vented. A damper 58 is connectedbetween the lift arm 22 and frame 12 to limit shock movements of thearm, the damper including a link 60 (only shown as a line for effect ofsimplicity) connected at pin 56 to the arm and a link 61 connectedbetween link 60 and the damper. The upward movement of the lift arm 22is restricted by an adjustable stop 66 that aligns the head in verticalregistry over the buck, the stop including angles 67 and 68 secured tothe frame and arm, a stud 69 adjustably held in the angle 67, and abumper 71 on the stud adapted to engage face 70 on angle 68. Similarly,the downward movement of the lift arm is restricted by a stop 74including angles 75 and 76 secured to the frame and arm, a stud 77adjustably held in angle 75, and a bumper 79 on the stud adapted toengage the angle 76. Tension spring 8% is pivoted between pin 81 on thelift arm 22 and pin 82 on the frame and helps elevate the lift arm,pressure arm and head to vertical registry with the buck, therebyreducing the capacity required of the power cylinder 52.

It will be appreciated that the subject press operates in the followingmanner. The garment is initially dressed on the buck 14 (when the headis retracted as shown in FIG. 2) at which time the operator pressurizesthe appropriate power cylinder 52 to elevate the lift arm to theposition shown in FIG. 3 against stop 66 where the head 18 is verticallyaligned over the buck 14. Cylinder 42 is then pressurized to rotate thepressure arm about pin 26 and move the head against the buck 14 (FIG.4). After the garment has been pressed, the pressure cylinder 42 isvented to elevate the head 18 off the buck 14, at which time the liftcylinder 52 is vented to retract the head rearwardly to the position inFIG. 2. To time this properly and prevent head shear of the buck, alever 86 is supported on lift arm 22 and engages plunger 87 of a controlvalve 194 supported on the pressure arm 20 only under certain conditionsin a manner to be more fully explained later.

Suitable steam and vacuum systems are included in this pressing machine,but because they form no part of this invention, they are disclosed onlyschematically. For example, the buck pressing surface 19 is perforatedand communicates through valve controls (not shown) with sources ofvacuum and steam; and the head pressing surface 19 is perforated andcommunicates through a valve control (not shown) with a source of steam.By proper admission of steam from the head and buck, and of vacuum inthe buck, the garment is conditioned, dried and pressed. Foot pedal 94can control steam discharge from the buck and foot pedal 96 can controlvacuum admission in the buck; and hand lever 98 can control steamdischarge from the head.

A control suitable for operating the subject press will now bedescribed, and is shown in a pneumatic schematic in FIG. 5. Inlet airline 100 is directed through a normally closed three-way valve 102having a manual actuator control button 104, line 106, and shuttle valve108 to open a normally closed three-way air actuated valve 110. Air isadmitted from inlet line 112, through adjustable throttle valve 114,valve 110, line 116, and a check type quick exhaust valve 118 intoexpansi'ble chamber 119 of the lift cylinder 52. The lift cylinder 52includes a rod 120 connected to piston 122 which fits within thecylinder and defines the expansible chamber 119 previously referred to.The line pressure air admitted to chamber 119 axially displaces thepiston 122 and port 124 in the cylinder, is uncovered near the end ofthe piston stroke to direct air under pressure through lines 126 and 127to open normally closed three-way air actuated valve 128. The valve 128,connected by line 130 to the line 106 previously referred to, isoperable when opened to communicate line pressure through line 132,shuttle valve 134, and line 136 to open the normally closed threeway airactuated valve 138. Air from inlet line 140 is admitted through thevalve 138 and flow regulator 142, adjustable pressure regulator 144 andlines 146 and 148 to expansible chamber 149 defined in the pressurecylinder 42. The cylinder 42 includes a rod 150 connected to piston 152,and an adjustable bleed valve 154 vents air discharge from chamber 153to dampen the piston advance at the extended end of the stroke.

As the cotrol has thus far been described, actuation of control button104 admits air initially to the life cylinder 52 which elevates the liftarm 22 to bring head 18 into vertical registry over the buck 14. At thisposition when the cylinder port 124 is uncovered, line pressure isadmitted to the pressure cylinder 42 to bias head 18 against the buck14. Release of the button 104 would vent both cylinders and permit thelift and pressure arms to return to the retracted position of FIG. 2. Toprevent the simultaneous movement of the arms, which might for exampleshear the head 18 against the buck as well as to lock the head closed, alocking control is included.

The locking control is connected to port take-off line 126 from the liftcylinder 52 and includes a three-way normally closed valve 162 having amanual actuating button 164 connected by lines and 166 with a one-waycheck valve 168. Upon depression of button 164, the pressure from porttake-off line 126 is admitted through the oneway check valve 168 tocause a pressure buildup in line 170. This pressure in line 170 opensthe three-way normally closed air actuated valve 172 to direct air frominlet line 174 through lines 176 and 136 and the opposite side ofshuttle valve 134 to maintain valve 138 opened and the pressure armpower cylinder 42 extended. Similarly, line 170 connects through shuttlevalve 180, line 182, one-way check valve 184, restriction 186, lines 188and 190 and the opposite side of shuttle valve 108 to maintain the valve110 opened and the lift arm power cylinder 52 extended.

In addition, line 192 from line 188 is directed through normally closedmechanically actuated valve 194 previously mentioned, which is held openby lever 86 in all positions except when head 18 is against or extremelyclose to the buck 14 incident to the actual pressing position. Sincevalve 194 is open until the press is closed, therecannot be a pressurebuildup in the locking circuit to lock the press closed. In other words,if an obstacle such as an operators hand were confined between the presshead 18 and the buck 14 to prohibit the complete closing of the press,the press would not be locked closed and the release of either button104 or 164 would separate the head and buck.

Normally closed relief valve 198 is provided in line 170 of the lockingcontrol and includes a manual actuating button 199. Upon depression ofbutton 199, line 170 is vented to open valve 172 which in turn opensvalve 136 and vents the pressuer arm power cylinder 42 to separate thepress head from the buck. The one-way check 184 maintains pressure onvalve 110 to holdthe lift arm raised until the head is elevated off thebuck, at which time, valve 194 opens to vent lines 192 to .open thevalve. 110 and vent lift arm power cylinder 52. However, because of thethrottling effect that occurs in the valve 194, the lift arm powercylinder 52 will not be vented until there is suflicient separation ofthe head from the buck to preclude the possibility of shearing the headagainst the buck as the head is retracted.

While only a single embodiment has been disclosed, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that modifications can be made therefromwithout departing from the inventive concept.

What is claimed is:

1. A garment pressing machine comprising in combination a frame, a bucksupported on the frame and presenting an upwardly disposed pressingsurface, a lift arm pivoted to the frame along a horizontal axisdisposed vertically below the buck, upper stop means between the frameand lift arm operable when engaged to orient the lift arm in an elevatedposition, a pressure arm pivoted to the lift arm at a location thereonwhen the lift arm is in the elevated position that is disposed ingenerally horizontal alignment with the buck, a head having a downwardlydisposed pressing surface adapted to cooperate with the buck pressingsurface and being secured to the pressure arm, said pressure arm beingadapted, when the lift arm is in the elevated position, to pivotrelative to the lift arm between a pressing position whereat the headpressing surface engages the buck pressing surface and a nonpressingposition whereat the head is elevated above the buck with sufficientnominal clearance to pivot the lift arm rearwardly from the elevatedposition to a lowered position where the head is out of verticalregistry with the buck, stops between the lift and pressure armsoperable when engaged to orient the pressure arm in the nonpressingposition relative to the lift arm, actuating means including a powercylinder disposed between the lift arm and frame operable to shift thelift arm between its lowered and elevated positions, and actuating meansincluding a power cylinder disposed between the lift and pressure armsoperable to shift the pressure arm between its pressing and nonpressingpositions.

2. A garment pressing machine according to claim 1, wherein the upperstop is adjustable to provide for proper orientation of the head andbuck in the pressing position.

3. A garment pressing machine according to claim 1, wherein theactuating means includes a control having a prevents the shifting of thepressure arm from its nonpressing position to its pressing positionexcept when the lift arm is in its elevated position.

4. A garment pressing machine according to claim 1, wherein theactuating means includes a control that precludes the shifting of thelift arm from its elevated position to its lower position except whenthe pressure arm is in its nonpressing position.

5. A garment pressing machine according to claim 1, wherein theactuating means includes a control having a first valve that must beopened in order to pressurize both power cylinders and move the headinto pressing engagement with the buck, and having a second valve thatmust simultaneously be opened with the first valve and having a limitdevice that must sense the pressing engagement of the head with the buckin .order to lock the head in said pressing engagement.

6. A garment pressing machine according to claim 5, wherein the limitdevice includes a valve located between lift and pressure arms which isactuated only when said head actually is within a predetermined distanceof the buck and which otherwise is in the opposite condition.

7. A garment pressing machine comprising in combination a frame, a bucksupported on the frame, a lift arm pivoted to the frame, upper stopmeans between the frame and lift arm operable when engaged to orient thelift arm in an elevated position, a pressure arm pivoted to the liftarm, a head secured to the pressure arm, said pressure arm beingadapted, when the lift arm is in the elevated position, to pivotrelative to the lift arm between a pressing position whereat the headengages the buck and a nonpressing position whereat the head is elevatedoff the buck with sutficient nominal clearance to pivot the lift armfrom the elevated position to a lowered position where the head is outof registry with the buck, actuating means including a power cylinderdisposed between the lift arm and frame operable to shift the lift armbetween its lowered and elevated positions, and actuating meansincluding a power cylinder disposed between the lift and pressure arms.operable to shift the pressure arm between its pressing and nonpressingpositions.

8. A garment pressing machine according to claim 7, wherein second stopmeans are disposed between the lift and pressure arms operable whenengaged to orient the pressure arm in the nonpressing position relativeto the lift arm.

9. A garment pressing machine, comprising a frame, a buck supported onthe frame, a lift arm pivoted to the frame, lift arm power cylindermeans between the frame and the lift arm operable to move the lift armbetween an elevated position and a lowered position, a pressure armpivoted to the lift arm, a head adapted to cooperate with the buck andsecured to the pressure arm, pressure arm power cylinder means betweenthe lift and pressure arms operable to move the pressure arm between apressing position and a nonpressing position, the head being in registrywith the buck when the lift arm is in the elevated position and out ofregistry with the buck when the lift arm is in the lowered position andfurther the head engaging the buck when the lift arm is in the 7elevated position and the pressure arm is in the pressing position andbeing spaced from the buck when the pressure arm is in the nonpressingposition, and control means to operate the pressure arm power cylindermeans for moving the pressure arm between the pressing and nonpressingpositions only when the lift arm is in or proximate the elevatedposition and to operate the lift arm power cylinder means for moving thelift arm between the elevated and lowered positions only when thepressure arm is in or proximate the nonpressing position.

10. A garment pressing machine according to claim 9, wherein thepressure arm power cylinder means includes a piston and opposingexpansible chambers defined on the opposite side thereof, and wherein anadjustable restricted outlet is provided from the deflating chamber fordampening the piston advance near the end of its stroke operable tominimize impact of the head against the buck.

11. A garment pressing machine according to claim 9, wherein a controlis provided to hold the head in ressing engagement against the buck,said holding control including a button that must be manually depressedand a limit device that is actuated when the head is proximate the buck,and wherein the limit device and button must simultaneously be actuatedbefore the button can be released in order to operate the holdingcontrol.

12. A garment pressing machine according to claim 9, wherein the liftarm power cylinder means includes a piston that traverses a port in thecylinder means wall when the lift arm is proximate the elevatedposition, and wherein means respond to the port being traversed tooperate the pressure arm power cylinder means.

13. A garment pressing machine according to claim 9, wherein a shockabsorbing mechanism is connected between the lift arm and frame andoperates to eliminate shock of the lift arm as it approaches theelevated and lowered positions.

14. A garment pressing machine according to claim 9, wherein a springconnected between the lift and pressure arms normally biases thepressure arms to its nonpressing position.

15. A garment pressing machine according to claim 14, wherein stop meansare located between the lift and pressure arms and determine whenengaged the nonpressing position of the pressure arm.

16. A garment pressing machine according to claim 9, wherein upper stopsmeans are formed between the frame and the lift arm to determine whenengaged the elevated position of the lift arm for orienting the head inregistry with the buck.

17. A garment pressing machine according to claim 16, wherein a springconnected between the lift arm and frame normally biases the lift armtoward its elevated position.

18. A garment pressing machine according to claim 16, wherein a controlis provided to hold the head in pressing engagement against the buck,said holding control including a button that must be manually depressedand a valve that is closed when the head is proximate the buck, andwherein the valve must be closed and the button must simultaneously beactuated before the button can be released in order to operate theholding control.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,748,539 2/1930 Clarke 38351,763,648 6/1930 Davis 3835 1,865,238 6/1932 Davis 3835 2,728,15212/1955 Campbell 3835 0 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN,Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No. 3,490,159 January 20, 1970 David L. Radford et a1 It iscertified that error appears in the above identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shovm below:

Column 5, line 9, "having a" should read that Signed and sealed this23rd day of June 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, 1

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Pater Attesting Officer

